LASIK in St. Louis

If you are considering LASIK in St. Louis, don’t you owe it to yourself to find the best LASIK surgeon St. Louis has to offer?

Not all LASIK is alike.

Dr. Jason P. Brinton is a world-renowned LASIK surgeon and founder of Brinton Vision in St. Louis, Missouri. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Brinton has helped to pioneer new laser eye surgery procedures. He has been at the forefront of LASIK research and advancement,, always ensuring that his patients benefit from the latest and best technological advances in diagnostics and laser procedures.

Dr. Brinton has performed LASIK surgery on professional athletes, media celebrities, military pilots, and fellow doctors and surgeons. He believes that every patient, regardless of status or title, deserves the best possible care, and has invested in the education, staff, and technology to provide quality care. Come see the difference at Brinton Vision!

What is LASIK surgery?

LASIK, an acronym for laser in situkeratomileusis, is now one of the most successful surgical treatments of any kind in the world today. SBK is the most modern form of this life-changing laser eye surgery, and we are pleased to offer SBK laser eye surgery in St. Louis at Brinton Vision.

What is SBK Technology?

Just a few short years ago, LASIK utilized a mechanically controlled metal blade called a microkeratome. It was a good procedure; it was safe and it helped a lot of people, but it was not quite as precise as many ophthalmologists would have liked.

Then along came SBK. SBK utilizes what’s called a femtosecond laser. Not only do many patients have even better vision afterward, but their results are more predictable. What’s more, many patients who were once excluded from LASIK eye surgery have now been able to enjoy the visual freedom that SBK LASIK can provide.

What is Wavefront Technology?

The latest technology in LASIK includes wavefront-optimized, wavefront-guided, and topography-guided LASIK procedures. Collectively, these are referred to as “custom” treatments. Brinton Vision’s expertise includes the use of a variety of custom and conventional approaches accomplished with four state-of-the-art treatment lasers — more than any other LASIK eye surgeon in St. Louis.

With wavefront-guided LASIK, Dr. Brinton uses detailed maps of the cornea, almost like topography maps in geography, to provide an enhanced view into the tiniest complexities of the eye. Wavefront-optimized treatments preserve the natural shape of the cornea in ways never before possible. The wavefront-optimized laser system Dr. Brinton uses was the first to be certified by the FDA to improve nighttime halo and glare, commonly experienced by glasses and contacts wearers, but also among the common side effects of traditional LASIK procedures.

How can I pay for LASIK?

When determining whether LASIK or any of the six modern LASIK alternatives is best for you, quality care and outcome should be your top priority. Still, we recognize that vision correction must fit into your budget. We take all standard forms of payment (cash, check, credit card, etc.), and we are able to work with health savings accounts (HSAs) and medical savings accounts (MSAs). Most laser vision correction procedures are tax-deductible. We also work with multiple financing companies to provide monthly payment options to fit most budgets. Our most popular monthly payment options are:

Most insurance companies consider LASIK and other vision correction procedures to be elective, and they do not cover the cost. In rare cases, there are exceptions. Please consult your insurance company to determine your coverage eligibility.

What happens during the LASIK surgery process?

First, Dr. Brinton uses one of our two femtosecond lasers to create a carefully calculated flap in the cornea. Then he uses one of our two excimer lasers to reshape the cornea underneath the flap. Within seconds, the laser procedure is completed and the protective corneal flap is laid back into place.

The results of LASIK are so predictable and the procedure so safe that Dr. Brinton has performed this eye surgery on thousands of patients, including photographers, professional athletes, artists, surgeons, and other eye doctors.

What to expect on the day of your LASIK procedure

On the day of your procedure, plan to be at Brinton Vision for about two hours, though the procedure itself only lasts about 15 minutes for both eyes. You will need a driver to take you home after your procedure.

Just as if you were going to an eye examination, you don’t need to wear special clothes or change your attire while you’re here. The only thing we’ll add to your outfit is a small, blue cap which you’ll wear during the procedure.

Some of the tests conducted during your Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis may be repeated to ensure each aspect is checked and double checked prior to your LASIK eye surgery.

When you are ready for the procedure, eye drops will be used to numb your eye, then a small, gentle eyelid holder will be put into place so that you do not need to worry about blinking.

Once the laser vision correction procedure begins, the laser portion typically lasts less than 20 seconds for each eye.

What to expect after LASIK

Following your LASIK, our surgical technicians will provide you with instructions as well as eye shields to wear for the first two nights while you sleep.

LASIK laser eye surgery patients typically experience little if any discomfort during or after the procedure. Your vision may be blurry for two or three hours after you return home, but within a very short time, you should be seeing details of the faces and places around you that you probably had no idea you were missing!

Most patients are able to resume regular activities, including returning to work, the day after surgery. A follow-up visit will be scheduled for the next morning, where Dr. Brinton will personally evaluate your progress. At that visit, you will be given the final okay to return to your routine while seeing the world much more clearly — without glasses!

Testimonial

Dr. Brinton is one of the best in the country. It was important to me to be able to go to the best. … My vision now is amazing!

Jordan B.

Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what our patients have to say.

FAQs

Early after a vision correction procedure it is common to see halos and glare, particularly around lights at night. Our patients say that this is prominent at first, then dissipates over time to the point where it either completely goes away or is less noticeable. Glasses and contacts often have this same effect, as does applying artificial tears before nighttime driving.

Who is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery? Amanda Larson 2017-10-13T12:41:15+00:00

Brinton Vision is a unique practice in that we specialize in LASIK plus all of its modern forms. With that range of tools, we can correct vision in patients ages 18 to 108 years old. We are also different in that we provide a tailored solution for your vision correction needs, rather than just offering one or two blanket treatments to everyone who comes in the door. During your Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis, you will learn what the best option is for you and your individual vision goals.

What if I’m not a good candidate for LASIK? Amanda Larson 2017-08-18T07:25:20+00:00

We are also one of just a few practices to use seven different in-house, state-of-the-art refractive diagnostic technologies to ensure we have the most accurate analysis possible of your unique eyes. Because of this, we are able to tailor a solution just for you.

Still, there are certain times when laser vision correction is not ideal. Often there are treatments available for conditions that, when addressed, can make you a good candidate for laser eye surgery. In other cases, because of the technology we use, we have been able to diagnose problems that were previously missed, and to help patients establish a course of treatment that ultimately saved their remaining vision. A Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis provides the comprehensive information we need to decide which surgery, if any, is the right option for your unique eyes.

At Brinton Vision, your surgical technician will administer numbing eye drops to ensure you remain comfortable during the procedure. After LASIK, ICL, Raindrop, KAMRA, RLE, or SMILE, most patients experience little or no discomfort. Your eyes may feel scratchy, gritty, or watery for a couple of hours. These are temporary symptoms and are not a problem for most patients. The exception to this is Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA), which is an effective procedure for some patients who are not good candidates for LASIK or other LASIK alternatives. If ASA is the best choice for you, Dr. Brinton will discuss what to expect and answer any questions you may have.

Will I have to repeat LASIK surgery years later? Amanda Larson 2017-08-09T13:38:30+00:00

You should not have to repeat LASIK later in life. Your vision correction will be stable about three months after your procedure, and the correction made in your cornea is permanent after that. It is important to note, however, that the lens of your eye is not accessed during LASIK. It is the loss of flexibility in the lens that causes “over 40” vision, and that later leads to cataracts. Vision reduction or loss due to the normal aging process of the lens can still occur. Also, certain eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma are not prevented by refractive procedures. We test for these prior to surgery, but should you develop them later, your vision will likely be affected.